During her State of the County address on Tuesday, Walker County Commissioner Bebe Heiskell outlined the successes of her eighth year as sole commissioner, but credited community involvement as the true secret to her success.

“Early in my administration I began holding community meetings,” Heiskell said. “Community involvement is critical to good working relationships, because when the public is included, transparency is not something that is talked about, it is understood.”

Heiskell’s remarks were given at a luncheon before the Walker County Chamber of Commerce hosted at the Civic Center in Rock Spring.

Heiskell said community support has always been something she has enjoyed over the tenure of her administration.

She said this same community support has emboldened her over the years to strive for the best for the citizens of Walker County.

“It is an honor and a privilege to serve the citizens of Walker County,” Heiskell said. “(Leadership) is about fairness, good judgment, compassion, and always doing what is right for those you serve.”

Heiskell explained that it was through mutual cooperation of county leadership that the county enjoyed such a successful disposition.

She also credited much of the success of the county to “wonderful supervisors who manage their departments with efficiency and to their loyal support staff.”

“Working with our cities, our school system, and our regional, state, and federal partners has furthered good relationships, and also has streamlined and reduced the cost of government for the people of the county.”

Heiskell spoke on a number of topics during her address and concluded her speech by saying, “I am proud of the efficient operation of our county. Walker County is recognized as one of the best-managed counties in the state.”

Heiskell address included discussion on these topics:

* Operational and management infrastructure

“Through planning, infrastructure upgrades, and cost-cutting measures, we have significantly improved the maintenance and operation of the county government. With modern equipment, cross-training and internalizing services, we have cut $2 million out of the road department’s general fund budget while greatly increasing services.

“Our fire and emergency services are greatly improved and our ISO rating of 4 offers our citizens better protection of life and property while it reduces the cost of homeowners insurance.”

* Downtown revitalization

“Walker County is working with its cities to help with their revitalization, thereby improving their ability to bring in more retail and tourism tax dollars.

“The new primary care center in Rossville supports those uninsured and indigent that need medical or dental care. The cost is on a sliding scale according to ability to pay.”

* Green space and natural resources preservation and development

“Walker County has leveraged $200,000 in green space grant money to preserve about 5,000 acres of green space. Walker County’s 2007 tax digest was reduced by about $75 million in new conservation easements and covenants. Where this lowers the digest, the surrounding property usually increases in value because of green space.”

* Balance between residential, commercial, and industrial development

“With land-use planning, zoning, storm water management, and permitting, we have provided growth management. Residential development has gradually increased by about 4,000 homes in this decade.

“Our Highway 27 project and downtown redevelopment supports our efforts for more commercial development. Our marketing team, the Walker County Development Authority, and the Northwest Georgia Joint Development Authority seize every opportunity to bring in good, clean industry. Classified as ‘Auto Alley,’ we hope to the opportunity to develop support industry for an auto assembly plant in Chattanooga.”

* Tourism: natural, historical, and cultural

“Our special efforts on tourism have been focused on Pigeon Mountain where we are working toward a resort and conference center to bring in the kind of tourism enjoyed by such places as Stone Mountain State Park in Atlanta, Lake Blackshear in Cordele, and Brasstown Valley in Young Harris.

“We have worked very hard to get Highway 27 from Rossville to the Florida state line designated as a tourist route. Data from the Georgia Department of Economic Development shows over 10,000 jobs and more than $61 million in state and local tax revenues are generated each year by tourism along Highway 27.”

* Quality education

“Governor Perdue honored me with an appointment to the Governor’s Workforce Investment Board, where a team of 42 Georgia leaders worked for a year and established six strategic goals for quality education to be implemented in the state and are now in the implementation and oversight process.”

* Community development

“Walker County’s poster child of community development is the Villanow community. Their vision for their community was reinforced with land they acquired and offered Walker County for a new community center and recreation complex. They are supporting their vision by going door-to-door in their community to get the SPLOST vote out. Other community projects are to also follow their lead.”

* Regional collaboration

“With support from regional organizations such as Coosa Valley RDC, Southeast Tennessee Development District, the Chattanooga Metropolitan Planning Organization, and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, organizations upon which I am a member of their board of directors, work closely with Walker County to provide opportunities for regional collaboration.”

* Lowest property taxes

“Walker County has the lowest tax rate for the operation of county government, exclusive of schools, in the state. We have had the lowest, or near the lowest tax rate, every year that I have held office.

“Walker County government has a $17 million operating budget. To serve a population the size of Walker County, this is incredibly low.

“I support real property tax reforms on the state level, if they are fair and well-defined.”

* Special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST)

“The voters of Walker County have had the good judgment to pass SPLOST every time it was put on the ballot for the past 20 years. We have a new referendum coming up July 15. Citizens will have the opportunity to vote on the SPLOST in both the Republican and Democratic primary.

“Remember, if you hate property taxes, if you want to see Walker County blossom as a tourist destination, if you want to see major improvements in your county and all the cities in Walker County, support the SPLOST. If it passes, all our capital improvements can continue to be funded with sales tax dollars spent by people visiting our county instead of owners paying the bill.”